The Dan Reed Network are ecstatic to follow up their UK November Tour announcement with details of their brand new studio album Origins on Friday November 23rd 2018 via AOR Heaven. Origins follows DRN’s hugely successful comeback album Fight Another Day (2016).

To celebrate the announcement of their new album DRN are also extremely proud to share the first single Fade To Light with a music video they feel encapsulates the whole experience of recording Origins.

“The video for Fade To Light is taken from the inaugural live studio recording session at Blueprint Studios in Manchester and is the perfect microcosm for this entire process. What I think really translates throughout is how having an audience in the room fed the band with a unique energy that pushed us to expand our creative horizons. We’re thrilled with the results,” explains Dan Reed.

While recording the album DRN opened the studio doors to the public and invited them in to be a part of an exclusive series of recording sessions that spanned the globe with tracks that would eventually become Origins recorded at Blueprint Studio’s in Manchester, The Power Station in NYC, Nia Studios in Portland Oregon and finally Studio 4 in Stockholm. “We felt we were in the unique position to make this an immersive global event and break down the boundaries between those who love creating music and those love enjoying it. Each studio provided its own variety of motivation. Whether that be the knowledge of artists of who’d recorded there in the past, personal memories of the location we were in or the friendly faces watching on and inspiring us directly,” says Dan Reed.

The concept allowed supporters of the band to intimately witness the whole process of recording a brand new song from scratch with the band individually tracking drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and vocals before inviting the audience to participate and provide backing vocals for the song as can be seen in the brand new video for Fade To Light.

The audience were also witness to a classic Dan Reed Network being re-imagined right before their eyes.

A major part of this idea was taking control of the creative process moving forward as well as reclaiming music we’d recorded in the past. We thought those in attendance would really appreciate us not only creating something new but reimagining one of their favourite songs. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed revisiting these songs and contemplating the artistic journey we went on at the time and what we now can bring to that now as more mature song writers and musicians,” continues Dan Reed.

Dan Reed Network recently announced their upcoming Origins November 2018 Headline UK Tour that will see the band take in major cities across the UK in support of the new album. Special guests on the tour are Mason Hill and Hollowstar.

The two-decade mark will be smashed. Twenty years young will be noted. And a vicennial triumph will be celebrated. For Italy’s LACUNA COIL, turning 20 will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, not only for the Milan-based outfit, but also for their diehard fans around the globe. Together, they’ll commemorate the past—with a super-special one-off show in London and a new book titled Nothing Stands in Our Way—to venture bravely into the future. While the big Two-O is often an unkind benchmark, LACUNA COIL are facing down decade two with renewed strength, unfettered passion, and relentless drive. “We never thought we’d get to this point,” beams LACUNA COIL co-vocalist Cristina Scabbia. “That we’re still an active and growing band—we got a lot of new fans on Delirium—is exciting. I’m excited about the 20th Anniversary of LACUNA COIL. I’m excited about the book, the special show we have in London, and the shows to come. We look forward to accomplishing more things in the years to come with LACUNA COIL.” The road to now wasn’t always paved with lofty chart positions, high-profile tours, and viral music videos. LACUNA COIL worked tirelessly for their position as global metal phenoms. That they’re Italy’s top metal export shouldn’t surprise anyone. Amazingly, it all started in 1994, then as Sleep of Right and briefly as Ethereal. The Italians survived the next three years on a steady diet of Moonspell, Tiamat, and Type O Negative before finally emerging as LACUNA COIL on the burgeoning Century Media label. From there, the trajectory to success was relatively short, even if the band, at the time, weren’t looking for it. “We weren’t a hobby band, but at the same time we never thought we’d be at the level we are now,” Scabbia remembers. “We would’ve never expected to be here 20 years later. Italy isn’t a rock or metal place. For us, to get a deal with Century Media, an international label, a label that was home to the bands—Moonspell and Tiamat—we loved back then was pretty incredible. We were very determined to do more and more. We didn’t play with goals though. Actually, we had one goal: to get a deal. After, we had no idea what to do.” What followed was only natural. LACUNA COIL’s self-titled debut EP hit softly. The group’s penchant for melancholic melodies and trade-off vocals—Scabbia shares vocal lines with long-time co-vocalist Andrea Ferro—felt right at home, however. They would expand on songs like ‘No Need to Explain’ and ‘This Is My Dream’ with debut full-length, In a Reverie. LACUNA COIL again enlisted producer Waldemar Sorychta and Woodhouse Studios to realize their second milestone, a relationship that would extend nearly a decade. The songwriting dramatically improved with the revamped lineup and, as a result, songs like “My Wings”, ”Circle”, and ”Honeymoon Suite” were regarded, by fans and the press, as a brilliant mix of Paradise Lost and The Gathering. LACUNA COIL had officially put Italy on the metal map. The many tours around Europe—including appearances at premier festivals like Dynamo and Gods of Metal—also solidified the Italians as a genuine live act. “After we signed the deal and started touring, a whole new world of perspectives opened to us,” reveals Scabbia. “We would’ve never dreamed of learning what we’ve learned. Twenty years ago, things were absolutely different. Not even close to how things are today. The Internet wasn’t as big. To do a demo you had to go to a proper analog studio. To be professional back then wasn’t cheap. You had to spend money.” From In a Reverie to the group’s sophomore full-length Unleashed Memories, the lineup changed again and so too did LACUNA COIL’s sound. The stopgap EP, Halflife, centered on the Italians’ sentimental side, whereas Unleashed Memories doubled down on the guitar and the continuously impressive pairing of vocalists Scabbia and Ferro. Songs like ”To Live Is to Hide”, “‘Purify”, and ”Senzafine” immediately won the hearts of fans and critics alike, with Allmusic saying, “LACUNA COIL escapes the stylistic straitjacket of the goth/metal formula, making them more accessible than many of their peers.” Make no mistake, Unleashed Memories set the stage for LACUNA COIL to launch into the stratosphere. „Unleashed Memories was more us, I think,” Scabbia ponders. “The songwriting was the focus. It took us awhile to get working on it [after Halflife], but I remember it well. We didn’t want to repeat our debut and we were really inspired to write the best songs possible, at the time. I think you can hear our passion on that record.” In four short years, LACUNA COIL were on the upswing, if only in Europe. Touring continued on the Continent until they hit Woodhouse Studios, again with Sorychta at the production helm, to record Comalies in the fall of 2002. The lineup from Release Date: November 9th, 2018

Unleashed Memories was retained, which helped tighten not just the in-studio performances but also the sense that LACUNA COIL—Scabbia, Ferro, Marco Biazzi, Cristiano Migliore, Marco Coti-Zelati, and Cristiano Mozzati—were charging forward as a unit. Songs like “Swamped”, “Daylight Dancer”, and ”Unspoken” displayed the group as veritable songwriters, where structure and transitions mattered. What they weren’t prepared for was the unexpected but welcome blow-up of the “Heaven’s a Lie” single. Not just in Europe, but in America, where it took off on radio and TV. Americans were suddenly enamored by LACUNA COIL. And the Italians broke their yearly album stride by touring constantly on the strength of the ”Heaven’s a Lie” and follow-up single, “Swamped”. Two years into the Comalies road cycle, Ozzfest rang. Jack and Kelly Osbourne had handpicked LACUNA COIL to appear. The rest, as they say, is history. “We did Ozzfest in 2004,” grins Scabbia. “That was so amazing! We were on the second stage with Slipknot and Lamb of God. Looking back, I think it’s kind of unreal. After Ozzfest, we did the ’Heaven’s a Lie‘ video. We got a lot more recognition. So, we started to tour more in the states. We were starting to become very consistent in the states. In Europe, we were already known, but after Ozzfest our image improved. Like suddenly we were a real band. So, yes, our big jump was on Comalies.”

NOTHING STANDS IN OUR WAY

From this point forward, LACUNA COIL’s album cycle elongated as demands on their day-to-day schedules increasingly intensified. The Italians rode Comalies from 2002 to 2006—selling 500,000 copies worldwide—until they were ready to hunker down on the follow-up, Karmacode. Produced by long-time partner Sorychta, mixed by Ronald Prent (Rammstein, Within Temptation), and mastered by Darcy Proper (Porcupine Tree), Karmacode was staged by Century Media to be massive. And it was. Powered by four singles “Our Truth”, “Enjoy the Silence” (a Depeche Mode cover), ”Closer”, and ”Within Me”, Karmacode shot up the Billboard 200 to peak at position 28, simultaneously crushed the German, French, Italian, and UK album charts, and afforded LACUNA COIL not one but over 40 different cover spots from magazines across the globe. Ozzfest also called again, securing LACUNA COIL’s status as the Next Big Thing. Even Yahoo recognized their potential, saying “LACUNA COIL are on the verge of a major breakthrough.” “Nothing changed for us as people,” Scabbia affirms. “We were still the same people [after Karmacode’s success]. We finally figured out how to deal with the music business. In the beginning, we were naïve and we thought everything was super-cool. Well, it’s not. The music business is a lot of work. There are ups and downs. We are sure of ourselves now. We are more confident in what we do. We’re more professional. We have our own company. So, we know how to deal with the music business now. That’s the main thing. Once you become a band, you become a product, whether you like it or not. We had to learn how to best manage our product.” LACUNA COIL were indeed a product, shiny and new. Although the Italians’ history had passed the decade mark, to most of the world they were still unknowns with a unique sound and visual aesthetic. Between ceaseless touring with the likes of Megadeth, Danzig, and Stone Sour, LACUNA COIL issued the Visual Karma (Body, Mind and Soul) DVD set. Recorded at the Loud Park and Wacken festivals, it served as a reminder of the trails LACUNA COIL had blazed for the Karmacode effort, while also offering fans a personal view into the band. When they hit the studio for Shallow Life a year later, change was in the air. Not only had primary songwriter Marco Coti-Zelati streamlined the songs, LACUNA COIL hired famed producer Don Gilmore (Linkin Park). For Shallow Life, four singles were unfurled. “Spellbound”, “I Like It”, ”I Won’t Tell You”, and “Wide Awake” were tailor-made for a wider audience. To date, the videos for “Spellbound”, ”I Like It”, and ”I Won’t Tell You” have over 20 million views. Shallow Life itself peaked at 16 on the Billboard 200, while also scoring top chart positions in Germany, France, Italy, and the UK. Certainly, there was no stopping LACUNA COIL. “Shallow Life is a natural metamorphosis from within the band,” explains Scabbia. “We explored different musical territories while maintaining our own style. A mix of old and new, fast and slow and light and dark. The album production is incredibly powerful and has a beautiful purity to it. Shallow Life has forced us to challenge ourselves. It represents the way we see ourselves in the days we live in through truth, love and lies.” But there were darker things in front of LACUNA COIL, whether they realized it or not. The terrible aspects of everyday life came into view. Geopolitics were gruesome—bombings in Russia, tsunamis in Japan, and the global economy in continual slump—and things positive from the decade before had become a distant memory. LACUNA COIL were brooding and the music reflected their inky mood. To wit, Dark Adrenaline wasn’t a direct return to the Comalies era, but it wasn’t as bright as the albums before it. The album’s first single, “Trip the Darkness”, captured the zeitgeist perfectly. It fretted as much as it grooved. Follow-up singles “Fire” and “End of Time” propelled LACUNA COIL’s sixth studio album to the group’s best chart positions ever, reaching 15 on the Billboard 200, 34 in Finland, 36 in Germany, and 18 in Italy. While most bands had hit their glass ceilings, LACUNA COIL had already busted through theirs and were on to the next milestone. “On the last album, we were experimenting with our music,” Ferro unveils. “With Dark Adrenaline, we’ve been able to sum up almost all of the different aspects of LACUNA COIL. There is fluidity and maturity to the new songs that show the band that is willing to branch out while still staying true to our sonic roots.” Whatever was getting under LACUNA COIL’s skin in the years leading up to and after Dark Adrenaline, it manifested deeply in Broken Crown Halo. Conceptually, it centered on the differences between real life and fairytales. That our reality is more fragile than we realize. Musically, LACUNA COIL’s sixth studio album was Coti-Zelati’s most cinematic moment, where music from Goblin, as written for legendary Italian horror director Dario Argento, came into view. Produced by Jay Baumgardner (P.O.D. Sevendust, Evanescence, Papa Roach) and mastered by Howie Weinberg (Metallica, Soundgarden, Nirvana), Broken Crown Halo was the Italians’ most ominous music to date. The singles ”Nothing Stands in Our Way”, ”Die & Rise”, and “I Forgive (But I Won’t Forget Your Name)” strongly reflected Coti-Zelati’s fascination with overcast themes and film soundscapes. Unfortunately, Broken Crown Halo would also be the last album to feature LACUNA COIL’s ”classic lineup”. Drummer Cristiano Mozzati and guitarist Cristiano Migliore moved on, as did guitarist Marco Biazzi right before the follow-up to Broken Crown Halo. “We’ve fused dark and horror elements with real life situations and have created a metaphor—we are fighting for a kingdom and a crown that is not what it seems,” continues Ferro. “It represents the moment of confusion we’re living in and the very fragile situations we face every day. We dealt with a lot of pain that has brought us down as a band and left us broken and shattered. But it also made us realize how much time has made us stronger. There have been times that we’ve been trapped in our past, only to discover that no one but ourselves can free us. When darkness holds you close, you need to open the wound and let it bleed out.”

IN VISIBLE LIGHT

The storm clouds continued to pass menacingly overhead, but didn’t stop Coti-Zelati from writing Delirium from a familiar place, both figurative and literal. Written, jammed, and produced in Italy, Delirium was, in effect, a homecoming for LACUNA COIL. They needed the comforts of places familiar after so many years away. Coti-Zelati’s new music ran directly through the halcyon days of Karmacode while developing the filmic qualities of Broken Crown Halo. The response, from fans and press, was deafening. Metalsucks said, “[Delirium is a] strong contender for best pop metal album of 2016”, with Loudwire piling on, saying, “It’s a polished album with memorable and flawlessly arranged songs that also includes some of the heaviest material they have done.” Promoted with a four-single configuration—“The House of Shame”, “Ghost in the Mist”, “Blood, Tears, Dust”, and the title track—Delirium charged the charts, peaking at 33 on the Billboard 200, #1 on the iTunes Metal Chart, and number 11 on the Italian charts. “We did everything in Milan [on Delirium],” Scabbia affirms. “Doing things in our hometown is easier. We also didn’t go outside for a producer. We wanted Marco to produce the album, so it’s, more or less, all LACUNA COIL. It’s us. I’m sure people think we took a risk by doing it ourselves, but we felt we didn’t need another opinion. I think the results speak for themselves.” By this point, if there’s anything that defines LACUNA COIL it’s perseverance and dedication. Delirium is evidence of that. True, the Italians didn’t set out as twentysomethings to be a chart-topping, globe-trotting, genre-bending beacon, but through quality songwriting, a strong emotional connection to their fans, and a diehard work ethic, that’s where they’ve landed 20 years later. That LACUNA COIL are better now, as veterans, than they were as gothic metal novices certainly says a lot about the group’s mentality, drive, and ability to reinvent. The Italians are naturals it seems. To celebrate two decades of LACUNA COIL, the group performed a super-special one-off show in January at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London, where the Italian hit-makers unveiled a 27-song setlist, replete with heart-stoppers like “My Wings,” “Our Truth,” “Swamped,” “Heaven’s A Lie,” “Blood, Tears, Dust,” “Hyperfast,” “Nothing Stands in Our Way,” and, of course, a riveting rendition of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence.” The remarkable event was also professionally filmed for the upcoming live Blu-ray/DVD/CD set The 119 Show – Live in London, which will also showcase two featurettes, a before-and-after-theshow piece called “Behind the Curtains” and a long-form interview with LACUNA COIL called “Enter the Coil.” “What took place at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on the 19th of January 2018 was pure magic,” beams the band. “It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us as a band and as people. The work involved, the pre-performance tension, the intensity on stage, the energy between us and the audience—all of this was beyond anything we’ve ever done before. This event was not just a show it was a birthday party, an anniversary celebration and most importantly a huge thank you to everyone who travelled side-by-side with us for the last 20 years. And now, with the release of The 119 Show – Live in London we can also share the magic with those fans who weren’t able to party with us in January.” As for the future, the follow-up to Delirium is certainly imminent, as are more top-line tours. There’s little doubt LACUNA COIL are at least thinking about it. Or, is there? “We don’t look ahead too much,” laughs Scabbia. “Not at all. It doesn’t make sense. We have short-term plans, but we don’t really know what’s too far in front of us. I don’t think, ‘Oh my god! Where am I going to be in five years?’ The past is a lesson to make myself a better person for the future. I don’t want to even imagine where I’m going to be in five years. It won’t be exciting or fun for me.” With that said, here’s to the next decade of LACUNA COIL! By Chris Dick

After a self-imposed exile from the music industry and the public eye, heralded guitarist Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne, Badlands) returned with a fresh new band, RED DRAGON CARTEL in 2014.

The band’s debut album included participation from a number of special guests, including Maria Brink from In This Moment, Jeremy Spencer from Five Finger Death Punch, and Robin Zander from Cheap Trick, but the plan was always to create a proper new artistic vehicle for Jake to bring back his own style of music and playing that has earned him so many admirers around the globe. Jake’s comeback was greeted with much enthusiasm from the fans and media alike and the virtuoso guitarist is back once again to grace the rock world with his unbridled skill! With an extremely talented band featuring Anthony Esposito on bass (ex-Lynch Mob), Phil Varone (ex-Saigon Kick, Skid Row) on drums and singer Darren Smith (Harem Scarem) backing him up, Jake has delivered the album fans have been eager to hear since Badlands dissolved years ago.

“Patina,” the new album, is a definitive statement of Jake’s unbelievable skills. The record returns to the bluesy, fierce hard rock sound of the Badlands days, updated with a monster production from Esposito and a perfect mix, courtesy of Max Norman whose relationship with Jake dates back to his days with Ozzy Osbourne.

Best known as the original vocalist and founding member of the platinum selling hard rock band RATT, Stephen Pearcy has been hard at work completing his highly anticipated fifth solo album “View to a Thrill”, while at the same time keeping busy performing shows across the U.S.

“View To A Thrill” includes 11 superb Ratt ‘n Roll songs written by Stephen Pearcy, together with guitarist Erik Ferentinos, that will surely please fans of his last solo effort, “Smash” as well as fans of his original band, RATT. The track listing flows perfectly and takes you on an audio journey through blistering rockers mixed with slower, more measured numbers. Like RATT’s catalog, this is a record that showcases the art of the riff! Erik Ferentinos is truly Pearcy’s secret weapon as displayed by the mind-bending solos on display throughout “View To A Thrill”.

With over 15 million records sold worldwide with RATT, there is simply no slowing Pearcy down in the 21st century.

Pearcy is an accomplished songwriter with credits on all of RATT’s records throughout the years, including the „RATT“ EP, „Out Of The Cellar“, „Invasion Of Your Privacy“, „Dancing Undercover“, „Reach for the Sky“, „Detonator“, „Ratt”, and „Infestation“. Stephen is also a producer, composer, owner/product creator of „Mic Knuckles“ (hands free mic holder), and has also been involved in recording songs for TV, movies, ESPN2 and NHRA Drag Racing Series over the years. He is also involved in sponsoring several top fuel dragsters and funny cars, which he has been doing since the ‘80s.

7,5 von 10 Punkte

TEN – Illuminati

Release: 09.11.2018

INFO-Auszug

FOR FANS OF: Rainbow, Whitesnake, Thunder, Royal Hunt, Giant, UFO.

Hot on the heels of last year’s “Gothica”, UK hard rock stalwarts are returning with a new album, “Illuminati” in 2018! The album promises to be one of the hallmarks of their 22+ years career, where fans will easily spot all the trademark textures and flavours they have come to expect from TEN, with a consistent and solid spark of creativity throughout. “Illuminati” continues to build upon the rich legacy that the great British rockers have established in their 20+ year career.

“Illuminati” is said to be an elite, secret organization of world leaders, business authorities, innovators, artists, and other influential members of the global society. A coalition that unites influencers of all political, religious, and geographical backgrounds to further the prosperity of the human species as a whole. The album “Illuminati” brings the band’s atmospheres and sounds and weaves them into a reel of mysteries, esoteric tales, and elaborate spells, evoking embers that spark the imagination courtesy of the classic songwriting of vocalist Gary Hughes.

Following the success of the recent string of albums,from “Albion” to “Gothica”, Hughes is joined once again by guitarists Dann Rosingana, Steve Grocott and John Halliwell along with bass player Steve McKenna, keyboard maestro Darrel Treece-Birch, and drummer Max Yates. On their fourth outing as a collective unit, the musicians in TEN have raised the bar even higher than they had previously. The album is full of stunning guitar work over a rich keyboard, bass, and drum tapestry with Hughes’ rich vocals once again bringing the nuances of the intricate lyrics to life.

“Illuminatii” was produced by Gary Hughes and mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward. TEN’s longstanding professional association with Dennis has been ongoing since he mixed their 2011 album, “Stormwarning” and has always guaranteed albums with stunning sound and production.

Born as a one-off musical extravaganza by two Norwegian metal and hard rock giants, Trond Holter (ex-Wig Wam, JORN) and singer Jorn Lande, the Dracula Rock Opera has now morphed into a regular musical project with guitarist, producer, and songwriter Trond Holter on the helm.

While the original plan was to leave “Swing Of Death” as a unique, one-off musical recording, the success the musical had being staged in front of audiences in Norwegian theaters convinced Trond that a follow up was not only possible, but maybe even mandatory. He was sitting on plenty of material anyway and still felt inspired to tell the stories of Dracula and Vampires that did not find a home on the debut album.

The product of this new inspiration is “Vlad The Impaler.” Vlad, also known as Vlad Dracula, was voivode (or prince) of Wallachia three times between 1448 and his death and is the historical figure that inspired the famous legends about Dracula.

With a lineup featuring singers Nils K Rue (Pagan’s Mind) and Eva Iselin Erichsen, Bernt Jansen on bass, Per Morten Bergseth on drums, and Erling Henanger on keyboards, “Vlad The Impaler” starts where “Swing Of Death” left off. Musically, it is an album that gets straight to the point while simultaneously utilizing diverse musical landscapes and includes catchy and melodic songs in a similar style to the previous album. Think Savatage meets Meat Loaf meets Queen meets Alice Cooper with contemporary hard rock.

Without a doubt “Vlad The Impaler” is to be one of the highlights of the melodic metal genre in 2018!

NORDIC UNION is the successful collaboration, built by Frontiers President Serafino Perugino, between singer Ronnie Atkins of the legendary Danish hard rock institution PRETTY MAIDS and the up-and-coming Swedish songwriter and producer Erik Martensson of ECLIPSE and W.E.T. fame.

The partnership between the two Scandinavians came about sometime in 2015, when Atkins was sent a bunch of demos put together for him by Martensson. The enthusiastic reaction from Atkins sparked a brand new musical alliance that culminated in Nordic Union’s self-titled debut album, which was released in January 2016.

Musically, the duo presented a hybrid of the more melodic aspects of Pretty Maids’ sound mixed with elements of Eclipse, Talisman, and W.E.T., while still possessing their own identity.

Following requests from fans for a follow up to the debut, the two musicians decided to give Nordic Union another shot, so after a few months production, “Second Coming” will land soon much to the delight of melodic rock fans worldwide!

Every aspect of the album screams QUALITY. The songwriting is of the highest standards, the musicianship faultless, and the production top notch, crispm and clear as a bell. Ronnie Atkins continues to improve with time as he deftly demonstrates throughout the album that he knows how to use his voice effectively at any given point in a song. Heavy riffs, soaring vocals, thumping beats, and a grand ballad…this album has it all and flows perfectly with songs that are memorable, rocking, and of course, melodic.

Prepare to delight your ears with a great new album from the sensational Nordic musical alliance known as Nordic Union!

OUT OF THE PRIMORDIAL OOZE… come DOOMSDAY OUTLAW! A ten-legged Armageddon machine rolling out of darkest Derbyshire, spitting heavy riffs and heavier grooves in all directions. Tales of hope and despair to bang your head to and lose your voice.

Releasing their second album in May 2016 to widespread acclaim (see below), the band have set about perfecting their live show. Effortlessly mixing heavy blues stomp with a melancholy tuneful edge, they recall Clutch, The Allman Brothers, Screaming Trees and Led Zeppelin – to name a few.

This was the album that put the band to the attention of Frontiers and that brought the album “Hard Times” to be released in May 2018 to more worldwide acclaim! Frontiers is now reissuing it giving it a wide availability throughout the world!

After the success of the band’s last studio record, the acclaimed ‘Loyal to the Pack’, Greece’s finest exponent of groove laden stoner rock are gearing up to release their first live album. Recorded in front of a rabid crowd in Athens, the album is the perfect example of the band’s incendiary live shows – raw, gritty and in your face!

‘Since day one, fans all over the world keep saying that our live shows have that unique power and feeling, that our studio albums fail to capture. So, we are thrilled to announce that our live CD „Planet of Zeus -Live in Athens“ is ready to hit the factory. Untuned and unedited, we did our best to recreate the vibe of that night for each and every one of you that didn’t have the chance to attend the show at the crime scene.’ Planet of Zeus 2018

Planet of Zeus are a heavy rock band from Athens, Greece. They have been around since 2000, playing extensively throughout their home country, just about anywhere they could, ranging from house parties to stadiums. Their raw, sincere and constantly evolving live performances have secured them a loyal and hardcore underground following, which exceeds Greece’s geographical borders. After 5 consecutive European tours and several high-profile festivals (including Desertfest, Bloodstock, etc), Planet of Zeus were hand-picked as main support band at Clutch’s 2015 Psychic Warfare European Tour.

Planet of Zeus have released four studio albums. “Eleven the Hard Way”, was released in 2008, (Casket Music/ Copro Records). The album received great reviews across the rock and metal press, including Metal Hammer and Kerrang. Iron Maiden legend Bruce Dickinson also featured it on his BBC radio show. The sophomore album “Macho Libre”, released in 2011, (B-Otherside Records), was the album, that established the band as a major act in Greece and started creating a buzz further afield around Planet of Zeus. Since then, their two official music videos, “Leftovers” and “Vanity suit” have become classics. Their third album, “Vigilante”(2014, ihaveadrum records), upped the ante even further and the band’s own distinct blend of riff heavy, groove laden rock n roll truly took shape. At a time in which individualism seems to be the ultimate solution for some, Planet of Zeus came back with their highly anticipated fourth album, “Loyal to the Pack”, an ode to the benefits of teamwork. Being well known for their never-ending signature heavy riffs, gritty vocals and danceable grooves, the band decided to “shuffle their deck of cards” and embark on a new musical direction. Encompassing melody, clean, emotive, vocals and a newly found sense of dynamics. This mixture established a signature sound for Planet of Zeus, a sound that takes the listener on a journey throughout the history of heavy music. From Lynyrd Skynyrd to Mastodon, the Allman Brothers Band to Queens of the Stone Age and AC/DC to Clutch, whilst retaining their own unique riff-driven sound.